A 27-year-old Dallas man is in jail after Galveston police say they discovered a missing 12-year-old girl in a Seawall-area hotel room with him last Friday. According to authorities, the child said that the man forced her into his car while she was out walking her dog, gave her drowsy pills, and sexually attacked her, with at least some of the behavior apparently videotaped on his phone. Authorities have charged the man with aggravated kidnapping and have indicated that they may file additional charges as the investigation continues.
How officers tracked the girl
Authorities claim the girl’s relatives called police when her dog came home without her. Investigators traced the child’s phone to a hotel on Seawall Boulevard and examined surveillance footage that appeared to show the girl entering a room with a guy. When cops arrived at the room and the person inside refused to unlock the door fully, they forced their way in and discovered the two together, according to court papers and ABC13 reporting.
Victim’s account
According to court filings and police testimonies obtained by CBS News, the child told detectives that the male gave her two drugs that caused her to feel dizzy. She said that he touched her improperly and videotaped the encounter. When cops entered the room, they allegedly discovered the guy in boxer shorts and the youngster on a bed. Officials say the girl received medical attention and that detectives are still gathering evidence.
Suspect and prior allegations
Police identified the culprit as Graham Dunn, 27, from Dallas. According to local sources, Dunn had been released on bond in unrelated misdemeanor sexual battery and peeping charges while challenging a separate false imprisonment allegation, and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office had an active warrant for an insufficient bond in a family violence case. During a magistrate hearing, Dunn told the judge he had never faced a crime before, but the judge deemed the new charge significant and set bond at $500,000, according to ABC13.
Charges and next steps
Dunn is currently facing an aggravated kidnapping accusation. Prosecutors informed reporters that they expect to bring additional charges after reviewing video evidence and data from the suspect’s phone. Any decision to include assault or other sex-related charges will be reported in subsequent court documents as the case progresses through the Galveston County system. According to CBS News, police say the investigation is still ongoing and detectives are looking into leads.
What officials advise
Galveston police are urging anyone with information or relevant footage related to the event to contact investigators so it can be analyzed as part of the investigation. Officials also asked parents and guardians to closely monitor small children near busy streets and to report any unusual activity to law police right away.
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